Auto parts store closing

A long-time locally-owned auto parts store will be closing its doors for the last time soon.

Action Auto Supply, 66 Cleveland Road in Norwalk, has been in business for more than 50 years, being and operated by locals Chad Klingelsmith, Craig Moffit and Mike Reilly. The three have owned and operated Action Auto Supply’s for the last 16 years, and worked at the business under previous owners for about 30 years.

“It is with heavy hearts (we) announce we are going out of business,” the owners said collectively in a prepared statement.

“We are eternally grateful for all of the support we have received from our customers and community since Action Auto’s doors opened in 1965. We also would like to thank our employees as we took great pride in having the most experienced, knowledgeable, mechanically-minded staff behind our counters.”

Moffit said there were some changes that were squeezing the business just a little too tight.

“Competition is getting worse in town,” he said. “The building is up for sale and we haven’t found anything that is suitable for our needs. I think that moving our business would be bad anyhow, and (the building owner) wants too much money for the property anyhow. I’d say that’s really it in a nutshell.

“The pie is only so big and everybody wants to get a sliver. With seven part stores in town there’s only so much to go around.”

Though there are several other part stores, Moffit said he still believes Action Auto Parts offers services that others in the area don’t, including the experience he and the men working there have in the field. Moffit said he started in the business 39 years ago when he was just 14.

“I think our help is the most valuable (thing we offer),” he said. “And paint — nobody else in town offers paint. We do service work for people that no body else does. I don’t know who’s going to do that after we’re gone. I think really, the knowledge we offer is probably just the most important thing.”

The business doesn’t have a set closing date, but said it hopes to have the store liquidated by the end of the month, or by the end of September at the latest.

“We are honored to have had the privilege to serve all of our customers and friends over the years. We have had very loyal customers and we have also had a unique opportunity to have multiple generations of families support our business.”

Action Auto Supply currently is having its liquidation sale where all items must go. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday.